Ranchi/Bokaro: The second phase of Covid-19 vaccination, intended for the state’s frontline workers, began on Wednesday.
A total of 823 frontline workers of the 2,279 intended for inoculation received the shots, there by posting a coverage of 49% on Day-I. Meanwhile, the vaccination drive for healthcare workers continued simultaneously, with a total of 50% (10,844) of the 21,547 scheduled healthcare workers turning up for vaccination.
Talking to TOI, nodal officer for vaccination drive in state Dr Ajit Prasad said, “We have started a total of 235 session sites from the existing 183 across the state to ease the burden so that frontline workers can be vaccinated simultaneously. We have also made session sites at various centres which aren’t at healthcare facilities so that frontline workers can easily access those centres and get themselves vaccinated.”
On being asked about any special arrangements made for vaccinating frontline workers, Dr Prasad said, “The vaccination drive for any category, be it healthcare worker or frontline, will be conducted as per the set protocols of the government of India and there is no change. Having said that, we have ensured that places like police lines in various districts have been allotted a session site as the numbers are more at those places.”
In state capital Ranchi, the turnout at the session site for frontline workers continued to be dismal as a mere 38 of 100 turned up for the inoculation.
On being asked about the lower turnout, a senior police official said pace will pick up in the coming days as many weren’t informed and we are holding counselling sessions for people who have been on the duty to come forward and get vaccinated.
Inquired about the stocks of covishield and covaxin in state, Prasad said they have enough and replacements have been assured at the right time. “A total of 3.34 lakh doses of Covishield consignments have been received in two lots and a total of 1.54 lakh dosages of Covaxin have arrived in the state. The distribution of vaccines has been done based on the number of beneficiaries and we have been assured of the supply in advance from the Centre.”
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Bokaro district along with other senior officials were administered the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday as the phase two of vaccinations for frontline workers began. The drive was held at as many as 15 centres.
Since the beginning of the drive, 6,200 beneficiaries have been inoculated. On Wednesday, 920 people were vaccinated across the district. Civil surgeon Dr A K Pathak said they are working on ways to achieve the target to vaccinate all the 11,000 listed in the first phase by February 6. He said, “To speed up the coverage, we are setting up more vaccination centres. Starting with two, we now have 15 centres. On Thursday, three more will be added.”
DC Rajesh Singh said rumours about the vaccine are false. “People should not pay attention to hearsay,” he said.